Apparatus for building structures



June 26, 1934. N @ARRET-r APPARATUS FOR BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 5, 1931. 4 Sheets-Sheet l 'n altr;

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`lune 26, 1934. N GARRETT 1,963,981

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 26, 1934. N. GARRETT 1,963,981

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 5, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 .f (1. -lain June 26, 1934. N. GARRETT 1,953,981

APPARATUS FOR BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Oct. 5, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 26, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR BUILDING STRUCTURES Neal Garrett, Glendale, Calif,

Application October 5,

12 Claims.

1931; and Serial Nos. 566,959, 566,960, 566,961 and 566,963, filed October 5, 1931. A purpose of the invention is to provide an extremely simple and inexpensive apparatus by which cementitious structures can be erected with facility and dispatch.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that is easily set together with a minimum of tedious operations, such as tying or nailing elements together, and to provide an apparatus that is easy to remove from the completed structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a supporting device for application to form panels which is provided with means for conveniently and rapidly mounting same on scaffold bars.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus in which a small portion thereof is adapted to remain in place to support the cementitious material while hardening and a large portion thereof is adapted to be removed soon after the placing of cementitious material so that it may be quickly set up again for re-use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a supporting device that is co-operable with adjacent edge portions of form panels in a manner to facilitate relative shifting of the panels in the setting thereof, so as to eliminiate the necessity of placing the longitudinal extremities of the panels in denite predetermined positions and thereby make possible a much more rapid Setting of the form panels, and, at the same time, provide the apparatus adapted for convenient setting for any special case when it is desirable to place the form panels with the ends of adjacent form panels in relative different longitudinal positions.

In the following detailed description further objects of the invention are made apparent.

In the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through a structure and shows apparatus for building walls;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the pipe scaifolding and its use in alining and supporting the form panels;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a pipe clamp;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of assembled apparatus for building a wall and a portion of wall formed thereon;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a slab connecting member;

1931, serial No. 566,958

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the apparatus and wall formed thereon at a gap in the form panels;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing apparatus for constructing a double floor;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a double floor;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a support for floor and panels;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of apparatus for constructing a double floor showing in section a portion of iioor formed therewith;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section through a structure formed with my apparatus, certain parts being broken away, and showing apparatus for constructing a roof. v

Apparatus and procedure for building one type of floor is illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive. A plurality of supports 20 are set up at the proper positions and adjusted to the desired levels to serve as end bearings for the beam forms 21 and the smaller beam forms or joist.

The important features of this invention have particular reference to apparatus embodying the panel and slab supporting device 71 shown in Fig. 9, which device is used in constructing floors and roofs. Some -of the same features of the invention have reference to apparatus embodying the clamp device 5 shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. It is intended that it be apparent from the following description that a set up of apparatus may be made for supporting the panels 6 in a horizontal position for constructing a iioor by using the clamp device 5 in the same position with respect to the panels 6 as in the apparatus shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. In this special case the clamp device 5 is adapted to be used to perform a function similar to that of the device 71.

The means for mounting and fastening the devices 5 and 71 to av scaffold is essentially the same as that of clamp 50. Referring to Fig. 3, clamp is provided with two semi-cylindrical recesses 51 and 52, positioned and adapted to receive pipes whose axes are at right angles to each other, and provided with set screws 53 positioned so that they may be tightened against the pipe to force it against the surface of the recesses to hold the clamp and pipes in position. Fig. 3 shows a pipe in place in clamp 50 with the set screw tightened and by the dotted lines shows apipe passing into or out of the clamp and the set screw in the loosened position. The portion of the recess between the edge 54 and the point 55 is a half cylinder having substantially the same diameter as the pipe to be gripped in the clamp, and the portion of the recess from the point 55 to the edge 56 is a cylindrical surface whose center of curvature is located on the edge 54. When the pipe is placed against and parallel to the edge 54 it may berolled into the semi-cylindrical recess which affords a maximum surface contact with the clamp. Set screw 53 is located just far enough below the point 55 t0 jam the pipe into the clamp and to require a small number of turns to be moved from the engaging position to the position for the removal of the pipe. As shown in Fig. '7, base 47 is provided on oor 44. Devices 48 rest on base 4'7 and are provided with centrally upstanding projections 49 adapted to centrally position pipes 1. Clamps 50 are fastened at suitable heights on vertical pipes 1. Pipes 58 are held horizontally on vertical pipes 1 by clamps 50. Clamp 59 is placed on an end of each of the pipes 58. One end of a pipe 58 is held in sleeve portion 60 of clamp 59 by set screw 61. Pipes 2 are held parallel to the proposed wall and perpendicular to pipe 58 in semi-cylindrical recesses 62 of clamp 59 byA set screws 63. Pipes 58 are adjusted longitudinally in clamps 50 to holdv pipes 2 in position to aline apparatus for building a wall. Rods 4 are held perpendicular to pipes 2 in clamps 5, and hence transverse to the proposed wall, and the rods are held in position by set screws 65. Clamp 5 fits over pipe 2 and is held in position thereon by set screw 66'in the same manner as clamp 50. The rods 4 are held at different levels and the rods of the different levels are vertically alined 1at horizontally spaced intervals. The horizontal space between consecutive rods 4 is the -width of a form panel. The pipes and clamps erected as described form the alining system.

Reinforcing '7 is placed over the rods 4 in the vertical plane of the wall surface and against clamps 5. Backing is provided behind the reinforcing 7 by placing panels 6 between vertical rows of rods 4 and pressing the same against the reinforcing 7, thereby forcing it tightly against clamps 5. Rods 4 are provided with holes at convenient intervals. Pins 8, placed through suitable holes in rods 4, hold the panels against the reinforcing '7.

Pins 9 are placed in holes of rods 4 which are spaced from those used for pins 8 to hold a second row of forms from collapsing inwardly. Reinforcing 10 is supported on the ends of the rods 4 and is held flat against the form faces by inclined strips 11. Each strip 11 is provided with a hole to receive a rod 4 and is held in place by a pin 12 passing through a hole in a rod 4.

Before the cementitious material is applied, ties 14 areinserted through openings of the reinforcing into the position between the form panels illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6.

After the slab connecting members and layers of wire mesh are in place, cementitious, material is plastered over the form faces to embed the reinforcing '7 and 10. 'I'he cementitious material is forced into the recesses formed by the beveled faces 16 of adjoining panels so as to securely embed the ends of the ties.

As soon as the cementitious material has hardened pins 12 and strips 11 are removed, rods 4 are released in clamps 5 and rotated to drop pins 8 and 9, and the forms are removed.

'I'he floor form supporting structure includes a plurality of vertical pipes 68 supported in bases 23 so as to be vertically adjustable and alined in rows by pipes 69 which are supported on vertical pipes 68 by clamps 50. Horizontal pipes '70 are supported on the upper ends of vertical pipes 68 by clamps 59. Vertical pipes 68 are spaced in the direction of the length of the form panels to hold horizontal pipes '70 parallel. Floor supports '71 are clamped upon pipes '70 at intervals to support the lower row cf panels. Pipes 70 are spaced in the direction of the length of the form panels to provide a plurality of supports '71 along the edges of the form panels to hold them horizontal.

Floor support or clamp '71 is illustrated in Fig. 9 and comprises a base or clamp portion '72, an upright web or supporting portion '73, and a floor bearing portion 74. Clamp portion '72 is adapted to fit over a pipe and is provided with set screw for forcing a. pipe into the clamp'. The design of the clamp portion of this clamp is similar to that of clamps 50 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The floor bearing portion '74 is in the nature of a flange. The under side of the floor bearing portion '74 is provided with an angled surface adapted to receive the angled edges of the form panels. The clamp is provided with a vertical hole to receive a rod 4. The web is thickened at '76 and provided with a hole to receive a horizontally extending panel supporting pin '77. Floor supports '7`1 are spaced along pipes '70 so that the panels are supported on pins '7'7 as shown and sufficient space is provided between consecutive supports '7l so that the thickened portions of the web do not obstruct the dropping of the form panels.

Over the horizontal form surface presented by the lower row of form panels, a layer of reinforcing '78 is laid. A second layer of horizontal panels spaced above the first layer is provided by supporting the panels upon pins '79 horizontally in serted in the vertical rods 4. This provides an upper floorv forming surface, over which reinforcing is laid.

Though the sequence of operations in building this floor may be varied, I shall now describe a sequence in which I place the panels progressively and advance the cementitious material over them as erected instead of plastering over several panels y previously erected in place. This may be done by a workman supported independently of the form panels so that light panels may be used without being subjected to those ordinary stresses and abuses received by form panels heretofore used as a platform for the bearing of oor materials and workmen applying the same.

To begin a floor construction I preferably place one panel in the lower row as at the extreme left of Fig. 10. Reinforcing is placed over the form panel and cementitious material is applied to form a slab extending toward the forward edge of the panel. The forward edge of a panel is herein considered to be the edge adjacent to which another form panel is to be placed.

Next, pins '79 are inserted in rods 4 and upon them is laid the initial panel of the upper row, above and parallel to the corresponding panel in the lower row. Reinforcing and cementitious material are applied to this panel is the same manner.

The second panel of the lower row is supported on supports '71 with its edge adjoining the edge of the first panel to form what may be termed a transverse row. When this panel is in place, reinforcing is laid over it and the cementitious material is advanced from the preceding panel to the forward edge of the last laid panel.

The two slabs are tied together by ties 14 placed both vertically and inclined as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 11. Iies 14 are stood up in the soft cementitious material with their upper ends against the forward edge of the upper panel. Cementitious abutments 81 are formed to embed the lower ends of ties 14.

A second upper panel is placed in position, covered with reinforcing, andthe cementitious material advanced to the forward edge.

The above recited steps are continued to carry the transverse row of panels and the floor formed thereon across the structure.

Fig. 10 shows the lower floor slab advanced to a point near the forward edge of the last laid lower panel and with the corresponding upper panel in place with the wire over it ready for the cementitious material to be advanced from the previously laid upper panel. The cementitious material is shown as stopped near the center of an upper panel to allow for the lap of the sheets of reinforcing 80. I n this process of progressively assembling the apparatus without walking on the form panels, the provision of the supporting device 71 adapted for linear adjustment on a scaffold bar makes possible a rapid application of the supporting devices to the form panels. As each panel of the lower row yis erected with an edge thereof in supporting engagement with the clamps 71 that support the forward edge of the previously erected panel of the lower row, the next clamps 71 are erected by moving the same along the supporting rods 70 into engagement with the forward edge of the panel being erected, at which time, the last mentioned clamps 71 are brought into an upright position by the action of the fiat upper face of the panel 6 against the fiat under faces of the floor bearing flanges 74 when means 77 is usedto hold the panel against the bearing faces on the under side of the flanges 74, whereupon, the clampingelements 75 are made use of to fix the clamps 71 in the upright position.

'Ihe form panel supporting devices which include in each device a support 71, a rod 4 and a pin 79 have a plurality of functions in that the same are used to support spaced sets of form panels, space the form panels of one set at their coincident edges to establish gaps in each set, and establish the gaps in one set in transverse alinement with the gaps in the other set.

When the plaster has suitably hardened, a similar pipe framework is set up for another transverse row of ferm panels adjacent to the first row. The floor supports of the second transverse row are horizontally alined with those of the first transverse row so that, by removing the pins 77 and 79 the panels may be shifted endwise successively into new positions in the second row. It is preferable to remove the pins 77 first so as to provide the rods 4 free to turn in supports 71, so that the rods may turn to facilitate the removal of the pins 79 which are usually pulled out in a direction longitudinal with respect to the panels. If desired, the rods may be rotated prior to the removal of the upper panels and pins 79, thus releasing the upper panels; the upper panels withdrawn; and then the pins easily removed. The panels are shifted endwise to new positions in the succeeding transverse row.

When the form panels are removed, the upper slab is supported from the under slab by ties 14 and the lower slab bears on floor supports 71 which carry the floor until permanent support is provided.

Floor slabs are erected on the forms in the second row to form a strip of floor adjacent and connected to the previously formed floor. The sheets of reinforcing are longer than the panels and lap at the ends cf the panels to securely tie successive strips of flooring. Ties 14, placed against panels of the second transverse row, are in alinement with similar members of the already erected iioor and thus form a continuation of the truss bracing between floor slabs. Successive strips of ooring are formed in the above described manner upon successive settings ol'v panels so that the floor is extended progressively across the structure.

Permanent support for the double floor is provided by the erection of the walls, or otherwise, and then pipes 68 are lowered in bases 23, whereupon supports 71 and the rest of the floor form supporting apparatus is removed.

Another one of my methods of building a double iioor is by using a set-up of apparatus similar to that described for the construction of my double wall except that it is erected in the horizontal position. The essential diiference between this last mentioned method of building a floor, which is the method of building my double wall in the horizontal position, and the method of building the double floor described with reference to Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, isthat the lower row of form panels are faced down and the lower slab is plastered from the under side. In this case the clamps 5 perform a function similar to that of the supports 71.

Another one of my methods of building a double wall is to build a structure essentially as the double i'loor illustrated in Figures 8 and 10, except that the apparatus be used in a vertical position.

From the foregoing description of the method of building my wall in a horizontal position and the method of building a double floor as illustrated with reference to Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, two methods of constructing my roof should be evident because it is only necessary to build the upper slab in an inclined position to produce my roof structure. To emphasize the manner in which the use of my apparatus may be varied, I shall now describe a method of building my roof structure which differs from the described methods of building my floors.

A pipe scaffolding is erected for supporting the roof forms. A lower row of panels is laid directly on horizontal pipes 89, only one of which is shown in Fig. 11. Vertical pipes 90 of the scaffolding extend between the panels of the lower row. The panels in the lower row are spaced at pipes 90 and elsewhere so as to adjust the length of the row to fit between the walls. The gaps between panels are covered with sheet metal plates 91.

Reinforcing is laid over the lower row of panels. The scaifolding is provided with horizontal pipes 93 on which are mounted supports 71. Supports 71 are set with the slab bearing portions inclined to bear the roof slab and are used to support the upper row of panels in a. manner similar to the way they are used to support the panels for the lower slab of the double floor. The portion of the roof adjacent to the ridge is built first and the forms are used in successive rows until the roof slab is built to the eaves.

As the roof and ceiling slabs are laid, ties 14 are positioned so as to extend between the panels of the upper row and to have their upper ends in position to be embedded in the roof slab and their lower ends resting on the lower row of form panels. To remove the forms used for the roof slab, the strip 94 is knocked out, the panels are released from the Supports 71, and withdrawn through the space between the roof slab and the outside wall slab. 'I'hen this space is filled with cementitious material to join the outside wall slab and the roof slab.-

When the cementitious material has set suillciently to sustain itself, pipes 89 are taken down.

When this is done, the ceiling slab is suspended from the roof slab by ties 14 and the roof slab bears on supports 71 which help carry the roof structure until the cementitious material has gained sufficient strength to function with the reinforcing as the cords of the roof trusses. After the roof structure has gained such strength, the pipes, clamps, and supports 71 are removed. The vertical pipes 90 are vertically adjustable in sleeve portions 26 of bases 23 to facilitate their removal.

It is contemplated that features of my invention will be used in the construction of buildings where cementitious material is plastered on permanent backing. v

Although features of my invention relate to the use of plastering methods, my invention includes features which are to apply to poured con- Y crete work. It is to be understood that the term rod is herein used to include any suitable type of solid or hollow member consisting of metal, wood or any suitable material, and that wherever the term pipe is used herein the same is not to limit the scope of the invention any more than if the term rod had been used in place thereof.

While preferred forms of the invention have been described, it' is to be understood that the drawings and the description thereof are to be considered as illustrative of, rather than limitative upon, the broader claims because it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes in apparatus may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A clamp comprising a base portion adapted to fasten to a supporting member, a oor bearing portion, and a web joining the base and the floor bearing portion, said web being adapted to receive and support separable means for supporting form panels in relative alinement with each other at opposite sides of the web;

2. A clamp comprising a base portion adapted to fit over a supporting member, a floor bearing flange, and a web joining the base and the floor bearing flange, said web being adapted to receive and support a pin for supporting form panels at substantially the height of the floor bearing flange and at opposite sides of the web.

3. A clamp comprising a base portion having a rod receiving recess adapted to nt over the side of a rod and a clamping element to lock the rod in the recess; a slab bearing flange providing a face for contact with a slab; and a supporting portion joining the base and the slab bearing flange; said slab bearing flange being provided with oppositely extending bearing faces for contacting edge portions of alined form panels at opposite sides of the supporting portion; and said supporting portion being adapted to receive and support means for releasably engaging with form panels to hold the form panels against the bearing faces of the slab bearing flange. 4. A oor support comprising a member formed with a base portion having a rod receiving recess adapted to fit over the side of a rod and provided with a clamping element to lock the rod in the recess, said member having a slab bearing flange providing a face for contacting with a slab, and a supporting portion joining the base and the slab bearing flange and being adapted to extend through a narrow gap between a pair of form panels; said member being adapted to receive and hold a rod for extending through said gap.

5. A supporting device comprising a base portion having means to fasten same to a supporting member, a slab bearing portion, and a supporting portion joining the base portion and the slab bearing portion; said supporting portion being provided with means for releasably and rigidly supporting form panels in the same general plane with each other, and with a part of the supporting .portion interposed between the panels.

6. A form panel supporting device, comprising means for supporting two sets of removable form panels in rigid, spaced-apart relationship to each other preparatory to and during application of cementitious material to the panels of each set, and means carried by 'said supporting means for mounting same upon a scaffold.

7. A form panel supporting device, comprising means for supporting two sets of removable form panels in rigid, spaced-apart relationship and including means for spacing the panels of each set apart from each other at theirgcoincident edges, and means for mounting the supporting means upon a rigid support.

8. In forml panel supporting apparatus, a scaffold bar and a member mounted for linear movement on the bar, said member having a part thereof adapted to extend through a relatively narrow gap between coincident edges of alined form panels, means for holding the member in a position of selective adjustment on the bar, means on the member for engagement with form panels at one side of said panels, and second means on said member for engagement with the opposite sides of said panels. 1

9. In form panel supporting apparatus, spacedapart panel supporting devices, rigid means connecting the devices with each other and means on one of the devices for supporting connection with a scaffold structure, each of said devices having parts disposed respectively at the opposite sides of a linear line drawn through the connecting means, said parts being thus disposed fo'r supporting coincident edge portions of alined panels, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a rigid rod, means on the rod for supporting coincident form panels in a position for accommodation of the rod between adjacent edges thereof, other means on the rod for supporting other coincident form panels and including spaced-apart portions between which the edges of said other coincident panels are adapted to be interposed, and a portion on said other means formed for attaching connection with a scaffold.

11. Apparatus of the class described, comprising form panel supporting means characterized by a structure having a portion formed for linear movement upon a scaffold bar, means for holding said portion in a position of xed linear adjustment, and spaced-apart devices on the supporting means for the reception therebetween of alined form panels.

12. Floor forming apparatus comprising two substantially laterally spaced-apart horizontal rows of rectangular form panels, and supporting means adjacent to and co-operable with edge portions of the panels of each row for holding adjacent panels in relatively shiftable relation 1 CERTIFICATEA OF CORRECTION. 5

Patent No. 1,963,981. June 26, 1934.

NEAL GARRETT.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction vas follows: Page 1, line 77, beginning with the word "Apparatus" strike out all to and including the word Hoist." in line 82; and that the said Letters Patent-should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of September, A. D. 1934.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

